Review #914 - Benromach 2007 Cask Strength Batch 1
Benromach has been produced Cask Strength bottlings for more than 20 years now; here's one that was distilled back in 2007 and bottled in 2018 with an age statement of 11 years. This was the first batch of 2007 distillate used in a cask strength bottling.
The casks used for this cask strength single malt are the same as Benromach typically uses for their releases: first fill casks, both ex-bourbon and ex- sherry versions. They don't disclose the type of sherry casks, but considering how predominant Oloroso-seasoned sherry casks are in the industry, we're guessing at least a good portion of these came from that style. In the end, the bottling strength is 58.2% ABV after those 11 years of aging.
Benromach 2007 Cask Strength Batch 1
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Price: USD 90 (2026, based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: 11 Years
Strength: 58.2% ABV
Cask Makeup: First fill ex-bourbon and sherry casks
Details: Batch 1, distilled 2007, bottled 2018
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Funky and earthy, with mushrooms, damp wood, and moss - a bit dank. Vanilla and darker stewed fruit like prune bring a bit of sweetness, but we also get savory black pepper and pork lathered in barbecue sauce. Tons of character, pretty unusual.
Palate: Soft peat, super funky, quite earthy and woody too. Oranges, syrupy raspberry, and strong black licorice notes are followed by mushrooms sauteed in sweet red wine and clove. It's quite dirty, and we also get some mineral flavors, and the mouthfeel has a medium thickness.
Finish: Earthy, funky, and savory notes continue. Sauteed mushroom, some fizzy peat, a bit of charcoal, and musty wood combine with oversweet plum, licorice, sassafras, and cola. Earthy roots, mineral notes, and vanilla linger; it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: Great stuff, and that's hardly a surprise - we think Benromach is producing some of the most characterful, interesting whisky in Scotland - there's a reason that this distillery has earned the unofficial title of 'the Springbank of Speyside.' Lots of different flavor dimensions with fruits, earthy notes, smoky notes, savory flavors, spice, all sorts of stuff. This is one that you can dig into for a long time in a tasting session, tons of complexity.
Value is very good - even these older Benromach bottlings are very affordable at auction. The modern versions of the Benro Cask Strength are also superb value - if you like a lot of character in your whisky, we highly recommend picking one of these up.
Our Rating: 7.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.92
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
